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It's important to be brutally honest about what a possible Turkish operation against local Yezidi forces in Sinjar would involve, and to understand the sinister lies it is based on. Here's a brief summary.
Turkey claims that such an operation would target the PKK. This is false.
Turkey's targets in Sinjar are the YBS—units made up of local Yezidi men and women that are in the process of integrating into Iraqi structures.
Good overview of their situation: http://www.aymennjawad.org/2021/01/the-sinjar-resistance-units-interview
Turkey's targets in Sinjar are the YBS—units made up of local Yezidi men and women that are in the process of integrating into Iraqi structures.
Good overview of their situation: http://www.aymennjawad.org/2021/01/the-sinjar-resistance-units-interview
The reason why the PKK was there in the first place is also important to note.
They went into Sinjar for a humanitarian mission to rescue Yezidis from ISIS and push the group out of the area altogether.
They left when asked in 2018.
They went into Sinjar for a humanitarian mission to rescue Yezidis from ISIS and push the group out of the area altogether.
They left when asked in 2018.
We also need to assess Turkey's role—or lack of it—in those atrocities.
Turkey had a demonstrated capability to strike targets in Iraq, but never carried out one single action to stop ISIS' genocidal rampage.
They watched as countless innocents were kidnapped and massacred.
Turkey had a demonstrated capability to strike targets in Iraq, but never carried out one single action to stop ISIS' genocidal rampage.
They watched as countless innocents were kidnapped and massacred.
In fact, the first Turkish airstrikes in Iraq targeted YBS positions in 2017. Again, these are local Yezidi forces: men and women who took up arms to say "never again."
Many subsequent strikes in the area have targeted these groups.
Many subsequent strikes in the area have targeted these groups.
The fate of Yezidis in Syria under Turkish occupation is also relevant here.
According to @UNCoISyria, Turkish-backed groups are "challenging the precarious existence of the Yazidi community as a religious minority" in areas they control.
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=26237&LangID=E
According to @UNCoISyria, Turkish-backed groups are "challenging the precarious existence of the Yazidi community as a religious minority" in areas they control.
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=26237&LangID=E
. @AmyAustinHolmes produced an important report describing the fate of Yezidis in Turkish-occupied Syria in detail.
This is essential context. We can't let Turkey repeat this kind of humanitarian nightmare again. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/syrian-yezidis-under-four-regimes-assad-erdogan-isis-and-ypg
This is essential context. We can't let Turkey repeat this kind of humanitarian nightmare again. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/syrian-yezidis-under-four-regimes-assad-erdogan-isis-and-ypg
There are absolutely differences among different segments of the Yezidi population about how they should govern and defend themselves.
It's essential that they work this out on their own, free from war, as they and all peoples have the inalienable right to do.
It's essential that they work this out on their own, free from war, as they and all peoples have the inalienable right to do.
The forces that want to intervene in this discussion—the KRG, the Iraqi government and Turkey—were all complicit in allowing ISIS to commit the crimes that it did there.
They've lost credibility to tell survivors of those crimes what to do.
They've lost credibility to tell survivors of those crimes what to do.
Anyone who cares remotely about self-determination, justice for genocide survivors, and preventing humanitarian crises needs to be firmly against this operation.
A small diplomatic investment in making sure it doesn't happen would save countless people.
A small diplomatic investment in making sure it doesn't happen would save countless people.
